Panthers QB Cam Newton: ‘I Haven’t Peaked’ As A Player

USA Today

The Carolina Panthers took a giant leap in the right direction during the 2015 NFL season. Cam Newton led his team to an impressive 15-1 record during the regular season and was able to dominate the competition in the NFC to pave the way for a trip to Super Bowl 50.

Unfortunately for the Panthers, the team’s new found dominance once enough to propel the team to victory in the Super Bowl over Peyton Manning’s Denver Broncos. Carolina was crushed by the Broncos and went home empty handed after one of the best NFL seasons in recent memory.

Although Newton took his game to new heights and is now considered an elite quarterback, the reigning NFL MVP believes he hasn’t peaked as a player, via Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer:

“I haven’t peaked,” Newton said Thursday at the end of the Carolina Panthers’ mandatory minicamp. “I haven’t climaxed as a player, and that’s what I need to get better at.

“I always can find ways to take my game to the next level, and just getting everybody on the same page as one of the captains on this team, I take that very pridefully. And knowing there are a lot of people looking at me, as well as others, to lead the team.”

Heading into the 2016 NFL season, the Panthers will be legitimate Super Bowl title contenders once again. Carolina is currently sporting 7/1 odds to come out on top in the conference. The NFC is still considered a strong conference with the Seattle Seahawks (5/1), Green Bay Packers (11/2), and Arizona Cardinals (7/1) all expected to be heavyweights.

As for Super Bowl 51 odds, Newton and company are sitting behind the Broncos (12/1), Packers (11/1), Pittsburgh Steelers (10/1), Seahawks (9/1), and New England Patriots (15/2) with 13/1 odds, according to Sportsbook.ag.